Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I wish to make a short statement to acknowledge the tabling of the memorandum of understanding which you have just undertaken and the statement that you have just made, Mr President, in relation to the memorandum of understanding on the execution of search warrants in relation to a member of parliament. I acknowledge in particular the extensive work that has been undertaken in relation to this matter. I acknowledge that it is work that has transcended Presiding Officers, relevant ministers and a number of officials and others involved in the process. Therefore, I extend that acknowledgement to all those who have engaged in this process in good faith while seeking to resolve what are, at times, challenging issues of principle in relation to the protection of privilege, but also ensuring that in no way is the proper engagement of our law enforcement officials impeded unnecessarily in relation to the upholding of the laws of the land.

I particularly acknowledge the work that the Privileges Committee has undertaken in helping to inform and advise Presiding Officers and all parties to this work. I trust that the safeguards that have been built into the memorandum of understanding, including in relation to the reporting arrangements that exist, will help to provide all parliamentarians with the confidence that they can conduct their duties in the manner in which all parliamentarians should be free to, in accordance with the historic conventions and traditions that have enabled robust assessment analysis by parliamentarians of issues and the prosecution of those issues with the necessary freedoms and protections to do so. Also these measures should give confidence to all Australians that, whilst our parliamentary democracy is protected, so too will appropriate action be available in relation to legal matters and, as always, no Australian sits completely above the law in our nation.

Mr President, I thank you for the statement you've made to the Senate, for the details that you have outlined to the Senate and for bringing this matter here. I again acknowledge the cross-party and especially bipartisan way in which these matters have been tackled.